BNP slams govt silence on BJP leader's 'threat to invade Bangladesh'

Terming Indian BJP leader Subramanian Swamy's “threat to invade Bangladesh” unexpected, BNP yesterday urged him to withdraw his remark.

Speaking at a press conference at BNP's Nayapaltan central office, party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also criticised the government for not registering any protest against such a comment.

“Indian ruling party BJP's influential leader Subramanian Swamy at a recent press conference threatened to invade Bangladesh if continued repression on Hindus is not stopped. But our government didn't give any reaction to it,” he said.

The BNP leader further said his (Swamy's) threat against Bangladesh's independence and sovereignty is unwarranted and undiplomatic. “We strongly condemn it and urge him to withdraw his comment.”

Rizvi said the government's silence over Swamy's comment has not only exposed the government's "knee-jerking" foreign policy, but also its utter failure to protect the dignity of the country's independence and sovereignty.

He alleged that the government is not raising its voice against the BJP leader's comment only to cling to power. “The current government doesn't represent the country's people; it is ruling the country as representative of others.”

The BNP leader said their party believes in ensuring constitutional rights of all, irrespective of religion. He urged the government to look into the BJP leader's allegation about the repression on Hindus, and take effective steps in this regard.